Tomb of Cyrus

Pasargadae

Farther south again, the tomb of Cyrus still stands almost intact, its simple lines and massive strength a perfect foil for the rigours of its upland location. Constructed of huge white limestone blocks, its gabled tomb chamber rests on a rectangular stepped plinth, with six receding stages. The Greek historian Arrian tells of Alexander’s grief at finding the tomb open and despoiled on his...

...a criterion of Achaemenian architecture: a columned hall with corner towers and external colonnades, called by the Persians an apadana. Other features are the Tomb of Cyrus, a gabled stone building on a stepped plinth, and a Zoroastrian fire temple (Zendan), a towerlike structure with a plan recalling that of the standard Urartian temple. Replicas of the...